“Ye've done the dirty work fer me, girl. The god of oceans is unforgivin’ and will ssservve a better death than I could ‘ave dreamed fer this ssscoundrel. Ye won't survive the night,” Trisay says, finally able to speak through gasped breaths.
Another loud chorus of laughter from the rest of the trolls makes my face heat with fury and embarrassment. I'm used to being underestimated, but the creature's words make me feel more foolish than misunderstood. I thought I was being clever and resourceful, but my gut twists in a knot at the notion of being swallowed up by the deep, dark sea.
“In the spirit of verkampment, I'll give ya that barrel of apples, too.” Trisay cackles as she gestures for one of her minions to take the barrel to the tender.
“Now, get the fuck off my ship!”
ON THE TINY boat, the ocean is amplified. Each wave jostles my whole body, and it takes me a moment to get used to the motion.
I've never seen so much water in my life. Spoikos is landlocked, and the water sources nearby are pathetic streams, rivers, or lakes, but nothing of this magnitude.
Raiden is sulking, and I think we may go however long we're trapped together on this dinghy in total silence. That is, until he finally cracks, “You fucking stabbed me.”
I shrug. “Accidents happen.”
It takes every effort to keep the giggle I'm withholding from erupting out of my mouth.
“You think that's funny?”
I don't have a chance to respond because he is using ridiculous strength to lift me by the throat. He easily dangles me above the ominous black water, as if he isn't injured at all.
I think he's playing at first, but after a breath too long, panic sets in, and I thrash as hard as I can against him.
“Put me down, you fucking monster!” I scream, kicking my feet and pulling at his arms. If I'm going down, he is coming with me.
“Oh, you don't want to go for a swim? I thought maybe you had a death wish,” he says, but I'm too terrified to respond, choosing instead to shake my head vigorously as the tears stream down my cheeks.
“Fuck!” he yells and then pulls me back into the boat, my feet still dangling in the air. My body is flush against his as he adjusts his hold, wrapping both arms around my waist. I attempt to use my hands to push off his shoulder, but he's too strong.
Raiden searches my eyes, as if by looking into them he might hypnotize me to his will. Or make me forget his little outburst. Maybe he can.
I try to look away, but feel compelled to hold his gaze instead.
“I'm sorry.” He sets me down, and I scurry across the little boat to get out of his reach. “It's just I lose my head when it comes to you. Do you know what I would have done if she had killed you?” His hands comb through his hair.
Something in his voice is desperate, and I swear my heart flips in my chest at his confession.
“I'm sorry,” I whisper.
“No. Don't do that. Don't apologize. It was my fault. I won't let anything bad happen to you, Arina. You have to trust me,” he says sternly.
I'm not sure I am ready to put my faith in him, so I change the subject. “How does your shoulder feel?”
“It's fine,” he tells me, touching his left hand to the spot where the blade had been sticking out and swinging his arm in a circle. I don't remember seeing him remove the dagger.
“I can heal it for you, if you want,” I offer, half hoping he doesn't accept. I don't know if I can be that close to him again.
“I said, it's fine,” he snaps.
I raise my eyebrows but don't press on the matter. It's understandable that he's shaken up. His crew was just slaughtered. Hells, we were almost slaughtered, as well. We all react to stress in different ways, and I can't fault him for losing control.
Instead, I ask, “Where are we going?”
“We'll be in Clestraya soon. It's usually a two- or three-day venture,” he says.
“You mean we're stuck on this little boat together for two entire days?” I blanch.
He takes a seat on one end of the little tender boat and beckons for me to sit on the bench across from him.
